229 meetings, including exhibition matches, have been played between these two clubs which represent Spanish nationality in Madrid and the "rebellious" Catalans from Barcelona. In La Liga ties, Real have won 71 and Barca 67 with 32 drawn. These two Spanish clubs along with Athletic Bilbao have never been out of the top division in Spain.
In 1936 Franco set the Coup d'Etat against the Spanish Republic and the president of Barcelona football club, Josep Sunyol, was captured and executed without trial by Franco's troops. The division between the two cities and therefore the clubs has always been vast. Barcelona being one of several organisations purged by the National Faction after communists, anarchists and independentists!!
Since the Generalissimo first oversaw Spain, Barca won the first 5 league titles until Real eventually broke their duck.
In June 1943, in a Copa del Rey semi-final, once the General's Cup now the King;s Cup), Real beat Barcelona 11-1 at the Bernabeu, after losing 0-3 in the first leg at Barca's Les Corts stadium at the time. The heavy defeat was put down to the extraordinary presence of the police and the secretary of State Security who apparently told the visitors that he had allowed the them "into the country". Intimidated by this, the Barca players could not perform to any standard. Another explanation is that the Barca players could not cope with Real's tough tackling and the violent nature of the home crowd.
This animosity has been continued with the Ultras emerging in the 1980s, the Sur of Madrid, the "conservatives" and the Boixos Nois of Barca, the "rebellious" club. Some might say that the fixture is encapsulated by the performance of the two stars, Ronaldo and Messi.
Messi is the greatest classico goal scorer with 21 goals, Alfredo di Stefano of Real, scored 18. Xavi of Barca, Sanchis and Gento of Madrid have all appeared in 42 Classics.
Other classics this weekend include Tottenham and West Ham and Plymouth and Exeter!
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